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I was raised in a middle-class household by smart, educated, and caring parents. It was quintessential suburbia throughout much of my life. And I’ve been incredibly privileged for it.

My parents held me when I was sad. They fed me when I was hungry. They clothed me when I was cold. They read to me – building a strong appreciation for language. They encouraged me to go beyond my assumptions and expectations. Without them, I’m unsure where I’d be in life.

Unfortunately, many aren’t afforded these privileges. In fact, more than 26 million children live without parents. What are first smiles, steps, and words without those who matter? The feedback and social interaction that comes from parents and their children is essential to healthy psychological development.

There’s a gap for those who need help most. Many institutionalized orphans struggle to develop at the same rate as their peers. Various developmental factors can be delayed. Some struggle with feelings of abandonment for their entire lives.

Despite being a tragically difficult problem to solve, I spoke to one man who’s looking to change everything: Joshua Becker. Better known for his successful blog, Becoming Minimalist, Joshua is taking a tremendous risk by starting The Hope Effect. The non-profit foundation is dedicated to bettering orphan care, and his plan might just work.

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Joshua about his new foundation. From learning about what the heck motivated him to how he plans to make this a success for generations to come, I wanted to share some of my conversation with him today.

What motivated you to start The Hope Effect?

I asked Joshua why he wanted to work with orphans. He explained that issues of adoption and orphan care have always been important to his family. Joshua’s wife was orphaned in South Dakota, and ultimately adopted by a Nebraskan couple. That process made an imprint on his wife, and thusly, impacted him.

They were moved to give back to this community. The Becker family investigated how to better adoption processes, as they are full of institutional and governmental flaws. The bureaucracy can significantly hinder people’s ability to successfully adopt. With countless of complications, they found out that their time, money, and potential foundation would be better spent on orphan care.

What are some of the current problems in orphan care?

I couldn’t help but wonder what orphanages are like and where care can be improved. Joshua noted that one of the biggest problems is the ratio of caregivers to orphans. There just aren’t enough people to be there for their children. In many households across America, two parents take care of two children; effectively, this makes a 1:1 ratio of caregiver to child. But in orphanages, money is tight and care is often what’s minimally needed.

Over time, this ratio can lead to serious psychological concerns. Whereas many people are held, cared for, and talked to, orphans can suffer from neglect. Joshua acknowledged that problem solving and more advanced intellectually decision making are also held back frequently.

How will The Hope Effect address these systemic problems?

Joshua aims to establish a “highly reproducible model” for orphan care – a blueprint to build homes and create avenues for change. The foundation will pay for the building, maintenance, jobs, and everything else needed to support a home for children.

The Hope Effect will start in Honduras, building a home on the site of the existing La Providencia orphan care community. La Providencia has been implementing a family-based solution to orphan care for several years. They are equipped with staff and even medical and educational facilities, making the partnership very attractive. As Joshua said, “They have a lot to teach us about what works and what doesn’t.”

As an added bonus, La Providencia employs a child psychologist. This is important to Joshua and his team as they appreciate the need for psychological wellness. Because of the great burden placed on these children, The Hope Effect intends to hire a child psychologist at all future orphan care communities they develop.

Briefly, Joshua broke away to explain the standard he wanted to achieve. These homes wouldn’t be more of the same. His bar was set high. Joshua wants his foundation to make homes he could imagine sending his own children – if something unimaginably horrible occurred. He wants every child to have an opportunity to succeed.

How can people help?

It’s all well and good to want to help others, but there are also pragmatic issues that prevent ideas like this from succeeding. Money can be a big problem – without it and this idea evaporates. I wondered how he intended to make this work.

Joshua spoke earnestly about making sizable sums of money from new book advances and his website. He said that money wasn’t the greatest concern for his family – they weren’t looking to buy a bigger house or a new flatscreen TV. Their hope was to put this money to work helping others.

Shockingly, the Becker family is funding the foundation with six figures of their own money. This seed money is intended to kick start fundraising and home building. By May, they hope to have the house built and care offered. It’s an ambitious timeline, but one they’ve researched in depth.

Additionally, The Hope Effect would look for donations to sustain development and maintenance of homes. Their initial investments radically change their charity, too. Remarkably, 100% of donations made to The Hope Effect will be given directly to orphan care. No administrative costs. No marketing fees. Nothing but direct giving to those most in need.

How did you go from minimalism and simple life advocate to philanthropist?

Becoming Minimalist was founded out of a need to cut back on excess. Now, Joshua has been writing about simple living for years, and published books to prove it! As I talked with him, I thought about his transition – from minimalist to philanthropist. How’d he go from one to the other?

Joshua rhetorically asked, “What’s next? What comes after saving money and spending less?” His family has everything they need. With the new income from book deals and constant revenue from the site, he explained that they were eager to do something other than spend it on themselves.

For the Becker family, giving generously goes hand-in-hand with living simply. To save is to ultimately be able to serve and give back. Joshua expounded that they are “committed to not buying,” and that empowers them to think of how to help. For them, it seemed like a natural progression to fund this foundation.

Where can people go to help?

Over the next couple years, Joshua is looking to fundraise hundreds of thousands of dollars and fund multiple projects. He wants to change the paradigm for orphans.

For starters, Joshua recommends checking out The Hope Effect’s website for more information about the charity. Donations will fuel this organization to be able to directly impact the lives of orphaned children.

I was so moved by our conversation that I set up my own fundraising page to support The Hope Effect. Instead of gifts this Christmas, I’ll be asking for your help fundraising $500 by December 31st.

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When I talk about frugality, I tend to focus on saving money, living simply, and making more. It’s a winning combination. By combining all three components, I knocked out nearly $40,000 of student loans, a car loan, and credit debt.

Unfortunately, I sometimes develop fatigue from concentrating on ways to prevent spending. It’s tiring to always keep watch for wasteful spending, and easier to simply swipe a card.

Thankfully, strong reasons such as reducing climate/carbon impact and disdain for contributing to major banks’ profits keep me motivated. I have a purpose, rationale, and philosophy undergirding everything I do. Without these, I’d fall off the wagon and spend crazily again.

Ironically, part of the reason I live this way is to spend money. I mean it. I save and save and save to spend money. Crazy, right?

The difference, now that I’m without debt, is that when I purchase something, there’s no interest against me. I’m following the age-old wisdom of the financially privileged/savvy to be liberated from banks’ powers to constrict and restrict.

Without loans and carried credit card balances, I’m free. And now, I can spend it the way I’d like. So after all the money gets deposited, invested, saved, what do I actually spend it on? What are all these efforts good for?

Since I’ve embraced frugality, three major spending areas continue to be of importance:

1. Travel

I’m currently in graduate school, which keeps me restrained from many travel opportunities. Frankly, that’s probably a good thing for my budget. But every now and then, I can save and purchase a flight — all interest free.

Most of my money actually gets spent to see family twice a year. Although, this fall break I’ll be going to Colombia!

When I fly, I look for the best deals possible by shopping various sites, check my frequent flyer mileage accounts, and book about 1.5 to 2 months out. I tend to decline most forms of trip and travel insurance, as my credit card provides those benefits for free. When I land in a new destination, I immediately try to find local shops and supermarkets to try and stock up on a few snacks/non-perishable foods. This planning allows me to experience the local cuisine and cultural foods, while managing the budgetary blast.

Travel is exceptionally important to me, but it has a powerful price tag. I don’t offer unsolicited advocacy for travel and don’t recommend that people travel to some faraway place. The fact is that travel remains relatively expensive, and it’s one luxury that I’ve been able to partake in with a positive net worth. It’s okay if you can’t travel today. Save for that opportunity.

Throughout my life I’ve always given money to charity. Regardless of my current debt load, I’ve made efforts to give to others in time and donations. Today, charity holds great importance in my life, as I can give without going into debt. Every dollar to my favorite charities doesn’t represent a dollar to a bank, which will be placed under a horrific interest rate.

3. Professional opportunities

As a graduate student, I get paid a small stipend to work and study. Soon, I’ll be applying for internships (similar to a doctor’s residency) for counseling psychology. That process may cost $2000-3000, but is an essential part of the process to get a Ph.D. Afterwards, I’ll hopefully be hired at a site and begin to have more substantial paychecks.

Having my own savings allows me to pursue various options for employment without going into debt. Additionally, the process of becoming a licensed psychologist, which I desperately want, requires a formal examination. The test costs thousands of dollars – not to mention the study materials. It’s another area I’m saving and planning for.

From travel to charity to academic opportunities, these options became possible after I paid off the debt. Previously, I used loans as a method for travel and adventure and even giving. But I was simply digging into a deep, dark hole of debt. There was little hope or light before. All I can say is that good things come to those who can cut costs and pay off their debt fast.

A lot has changed during my journey to change my debt. What you’ll notice is that I’m not saving for a car, house, or large physical objects. I’m a product of the Great Recession, skeptical of big banks, and not ready to make such financial commitments. As such, I cannot envision taking on a mortgage, car loan, or anything else at this time. For now, I’m free from the trappings of debt and living well.

So what is your frugality good for and where do you ultimately spend money?

Today, I want to talk about the reasons why I wrote this book, the process, and share some special bonuses.

About six months ago a well-respected writer and blogger took an hour of his time to talk with me. As we talked on the phone, I picked his brain about simple living and frugality. We saw eye to eye about the need for people to live minimally.

At the end of the talk he emphasized that I should write a book. Between flattery, confusion, ignorance, and gratitude, I hung up and froze in my chair. For years I had been writing, but doubted whether I was reaching anyone — whether my writing was any good. I had thought about writing a book, but inner insecurities prevailed and prevented me from writing one.

But here was someone I respected, and he was pushing me to publish. Something clicked. I realized that Frugaling was about more than personal finance, and I needed to compile that into a book.

When I started Frugaling, I knew about student loans and credit cards. I had lots of debt, and could share my desire to be done with it. In those early days, my articles felt like a reproduction of other personal finance gurus’ advice. The solutions were simplistic: create a budget, get a good credit card, and don’t eat out as much. They weren’t necessarily bad suggestions, but they seemed to miss perspective and depth.

Unfortunately, despite good intentions, many personal finance gurus were missing large populations in need of help. And I had simply joined the herd of regurgitators.

Then I had a comically simple epiphany: we are all individuals. One set of bullet points, “tips,” and “rules” won’t ever apply to everyone. And frankly, many financial gurus and “experts” are white and middle class or higher. Their experiences will likely differ significantly from various diverse groups and economic statuses. I wanted to reach a broader audience and speak to many pitfalls and problems that systematically prevent others from succeeding financially.

That revelation motivated different directions in my writing. Coupled with the inspiration from a respected author, I decided it was time to write and publish a book. Additionally, I wanted to make it affordable because ideas about personal finance, simple living, and minimalism should be accessible to all.

Using articles from Frugaling.org, new material, and a bold premise of reaching diverse audiences through personal finance, this first book will help readers build a foundation, philosophy, and resistance. Together, these sections aim to provide readers with a healthy dose of encouragement to live well on less. Let me explain what I mean.

Saving more, spending less, and preparing for the future are usually the first steps that people take to become more frugal. The foundation section provides an overview for why I decided to pursue frugality, new ways to pay off debt, and savings experiments that can be started today.

But saving money isn’t easy in a culture that idealizes consumption. Society tends to favor those with material wealth over inner health. As a consequence, frugality can be challenging and trying over longer periods. That’s why I added a section about the philosophy of frugality. If you’ve ever tried to save money, but wondered why you should, this part’s for you.

Armed with a strong foundation and philosophy for going frugal, the last section helps readers develop a resistance to advertising, marketing pressures, and the systemic problems that hold people back financially. I want readers to get upset with how we’re portrayed as mere consumers.

Here’s what people are saying about Frugaling:

“Sam provides a fresh perspective into the world of personal finance. In a world of copycat books almost entirely focused on earning more and spending less, Frugaling invites us to find freedom by thinking different about our finances, our lifestyles, and the world around us. It is a must-read.”

“I’ve been following Sam’s website Frugaling for six months now, and it’s clear that he is passionate about questioning consumerism. The methods in which he communicates his message are crystal clear, and I look forward to reading his posts each day.”

“Sam is candid in sharing his experience paying off student debt while pursuing an intentional lifestyle. He combines storytelling and his unique Frugaling philosophy with smart, practical advice for young adults looking to pursue the lives they want instead of being trapped by debt.”

“Sam writes with a genuine, thoughtful voice on topics of minimalism, frugality, and life improvement. He brings great insight to the issues he covers and challenges readers to question their own assumptions about our image-obsessed culture of endless consumption. A must-read for anyone grappling with the questions of what it means to chart a life that’s outside the ordinary and not focused on following the herd.”

I want to say thank you to all of these authors for their praise, encouragement, and help along the way. Please visit and check out their sites. They’re all fantastic writers and evangelists for saving more, spending less, and living well.

Lastly, I want to say thanks to you! I really appreciate your readership and hope you’ll support me on this first book. Be sure to share it spread the word on Twitter (#savelivegive) and Facebook. If you’re an Amazon Prime and/or Kindle Unlimited customer, the book will be free for the first 90 days. Otherwise, the book is $2.99.

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“Welcome to the Eastern Iowa Airport,” a big-brother-like loudspeaker exclaimed. Then that generic male voice droned on about watching your bags and reporting suspicious activity. Despite the boring interjection that repeated unnervingly in my ear for about 6 hours (I was a wee bit early), I knew I was flying home for the holidays — that’s all that mattered.

The quaint, small-town airport was filled with Christmas trees and holiday garb. Personally, I loved the colors and lights. People tended to be cheerier and friendlier — saying “happy holidays” and “merry christmas” in the place of “what the heck are you doing blocking my way to ‘Zone 2’ of this aircraft?”

Airports are the perfect place to people-watch — holidays amplify the eccentricity! A woman wearing a pink jumpsuit walked by with bells on her feet — each step providing jingles to everyone around her (whether they wanted it or not). A big-bellied man yelled and paced around the hallways, which made me wonder if this person needed a psychological intervention. His frustrations and screams were broadcast across the terminal. Then, I got a glimpse of his microscopic earpiece. My mind settled on him being “sane, but needing a cease and desist order.”

In between auditory assaults, I sought respite in a book about “vandwelling” and paying for graduate school on a shoestring budget. My phone grabbed at me to answer various travel plans and requests. When I put down the visual stimuli, reading material, and the fellow travelers quieted, my mind raced and face flushed for embarrassment: I hadn’t purchased a single present for my family.

I filled with dread, and puzzled how I’d fix this apparent problem. I realized I had no idea what people wanted, anyways. I’m away from family at large stretches of time, and there’s nothing that can supplement regularly seeing people in person. Frankly, I felt out of the loop.

The last couple years, I’ve been a sorry contributor to colors under the tree. While my family understands my small bank account (net worth: ~$500), and I recognize that I hate the consumer/consumption focus of the holidays, I’m still affected by the expectations of gift-giving. I want to provide happiness and laughter to those around me — to be liked and care for others. I want to see glistening eyes — appreciative because I got something that speaks to their passion, interest, and love.

When I finally arrived at my parents house, I asked my mom what I should get everyone. I confessed that I hadn’t purchased anything, and she nearly interrupted me before I could finish the sentence. “Oh, we are in the same boat, it’s going to be a small Christmas. I have no idea what to get anybody either,” she said.

I smiled at the irony of the holiday. If you looked in the newspaper, watched television, and/or surfed the web (sansad blocker) — without knowing the true meaning of the holidays — you’d think it was merely another sale season where capitalistic pressures stress consumption for self and others. We know Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Dillard’s all have sales. We know Claus-laden Christmas cards of red and green will occupy the aisles of grocery stores.

As humans affected by these messages, my mother and I were both feeling the strain of not knowing what to get everyone, but also feeling compelled to do so. Frankly, it felt stupid that we were bucking the internal messages (buy less) for the external scripts (buy endlessly), which are nearly built-in now.

My favorite Christmas memory was not the year that I unwrapped a remote-control car. My favorite Christmas memory was not the packs of baseball cards I’d requested. My favorite Christmas memory was not the cast-iron skillet, which I have yet to understand how to use (sorry, mom!). No, at the heart of Christmas and my current state of happiness is that I’m home and around family. I’m too happy about what I currently have to care about meeting the demands of our conspicuous economy.